V K Thummar is a known face as he represented Amreli (Gujarat) in Lok Sabha in the past. A die-hard Congressman Thummar recently came to take part in the IFFCO AGM in Delhi as a delegate.
On the sidelines of the AGM, Thummar talked about the Gujarat State Cooperative Agriculture & Rural Development Bank, in which he is one of the Directors.
Talking about Gujarat State Cooperative Agriculture & Rural Development Bank popularly known as Kheti Bank he talked about co-op bank’s goals and targets. He also discussed the financial strength of the co-op bank.
Popular among villagers and assuring the farmers in getting them loans for agricultural purposes “KHETI BANK” entered into a new digital age and launched its website.
On the launch of its website then Chief Minister Narendra Modi said” I heartily congratulate for providing information through internet with expectations that the farmers may take advantages of the latest information promoting their interest, prosperity and knowledge in agriculture.”
He said “In Gujarat we are having more than 6 lakh farmers as members of our bank and our main activity is to give loans to agriculturists for various agricultural purposes.
Highlighting the history of the bank, he informed that it was established by Late Udaybhansinhji in the year of 1951 for providing long term agricultural loans to agriculturists. It was earlier named Saurashtra State Central Co-operative Land Mortgage Bank.
”We are giving up to 3 lakh rupees as midterm finance to the farmers and providing them loans at a low rate of interest”, he said.
But he is disappointed that the government is not taking their issues seriously and policy restrictions are imposed on them which do not allow them to work properly, Thummar regretted.
He praised former Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar for his great contributions to the cooperative sector in the country. He, however, took a dim view of the way the NDA government is treating the cooperative movement.
In the last financial year, the bank earned a net profit of Rs 35 crore disbursing 15 percent dividend to its members.
